NEW Deluxe dating?

[cooncatbob]

After searching for quite a while I finally scored a NEW Deluxe.
Even though most of the plating was gone and the barrel was severely cracked at both ends I had to pay a premium price.
I went to the Geocities site but have been unable to date it as there's no letter in the serial number on the head "13565" the handle which is a Tuckaway has the Jan 13 1920 patent pending date on it.
Since the plating was shot I didn't feel bad about replating it and putting it on my personnel handle.
I posted a picture of it in the vendors section with my other new stuff and have had inquiries about buying it, but it's mine and it's not for sale.
I'm going to try it out tonight with a Derby.

 

[highball]

AsylumGuido said in a post that: there were less than one million New DeLuxe models made and they were only made in 1930 and January of 1931

 

[highball]

If it had a tuckaway handle it is a Norfolk and not a New Deluxe

 

[AsylumGuido]

If it had a tuckaway handle it is a Norfolk and not a New Deluxe

If it has a serial it is definitely a NEW DeLuxe made in 1930 or January 1931. Some Norfolk sets included a NEW DeLuxe. The NEW DeLuxe also came with a Milady set. The DeLuxe type heads appeared in sets for a few more years, but, for the most part, only those sets with a serial numbered razors were truly considered DeLuxe razors. Some Ladys and Norfolks were made without a SN and could still be considered NEW DeLuxe.

 

[buddydog]

This is all very confusing.....

 

[texbilly]

This is all very confusing.....

+1 Is there enough photographic evidence from the various collectors to piece together a graphical explanation? A lot of the Gillette model history is reasonably straightforward but this area is especially interesting. If already in one sticky or another, apologies.

Fine looking razor, Bob!

 

[cooncatbob]

The Geocities site says the Deluxe razor started with serial number "1-D"
My razor is numbered "13565"
It came with a gold tuckaway handle which unfortunately has 2 large cracks 45 degrees apart 1 at the top the other at the bottom extending almost to the middle of the handle.

 

[Hoos]

Sometimes the serial number imprints were incomplete or very light.

One thing I've found helpful in determining the lighter imprints is to apply a little vegetable or olive oil to it with a Q-tip or your finger. Then look at it under a strong light (magnifying glass helps, too) from several angles.

I had one that I swore had no letter and was some "odd ball". But that trick showed up a very faint letter B.

 

[cooncatbob]

Sometimes the serial number imprints were incomplete or very light.

One thing I've found helpful in determining the lighter imprints is to apply a little vegetable or olive oil to it with a Q-tip or your finger. Then look at it under a strong light (magnifying glass helps, too) from several angles.

I had one that I swore had no letter and was some "odd ball". But that trick showed up a very faint letter B.

They're are some very faint marks in front of the 1 but even with the oil and my loupe I can't determine if it a letter or not.
The rest of the serial number is very crisp and well defined.

 

[mr-razor]

The Geocities site says the Deluxe razor started with serial number "1-D"
My razor is numbered "13565"
It came with a gold tuckaway handle which unfortunately has 2 large cracks 45 degrees apart 1 at the top the other at the bottom extending almost to the middle of the handle.

Not all SN from the DeLuxe serie has a "D" - I don´t know why. About your short SN I would say he is more from 1930 than 1931. If your razor comes with a gold Tuckaway like handle, it´s a Lady Gillette DeLuxe:

 

[cooncatbob]

Not all SN from the DeLuxe serie has a "D" - I don´t know why. About your short SN I would say he is more from 1930 than 1931. If your razor comes with a gold Tuckaway like handle, it´s a Lady Gillette DeLuxe:

That's it except mine's a 5 digit number "13565" I shaved with it last night with a Derby and it was rather aggressive compared with the long combed NEW I usually use.

 

[heirkb]

That's it except mine's a 5 digit number "13565" I shaved with it last night with a Derby and it was rather aggressive compared with the long combed NEW I usually use.

The trick I heard which helped is this:
Put the head almost flat against your skin so the blade is almost parallel and use NO pressure. Not even that normal light pressure you use to keep the blade in contact with the skin. It helped me, but I agree, it's bordering on too aggressive for me.

 

[cooncatbob]

The trick I heard which helped is this:
Put the head almost flat against your skin so the blade is almost parallel and use NO pressure. Not even that normal light pressure you use to keep the blade in contact with the skin. It helped me, but I agree, it's bordering on too aggressive for me.

I'm going to try a different blade next shave.
I'm rather disappointed, some members here rave that the NEW Deluxe is the greatest opened comb every made and a superior shaver to the standard NEW.
The Coolness factor of the looks of the NEW Deluxe are absolutely off the charts, it without a doubt one of the best looking razor heads ever made.
Hopefully I can find a blade that will work with it for me.

 

[heirkb]

I'm going to try a different blade next shave.
I'm rather disappointed, some members here rave that the NEW Deluxe is the greatest opened comb every made and a superior shaver to the standard NEW.
The Coolness factor of the looks of the NEW Deluxe are absolutely off the charts, it without a doubt one of the best looking razor heads ever made.
Hopefully I can find a blade that will work with it for me.

I was very disappointed too when I first tried it. My disappointment isn't totally gone, but it's alleviated by the fact that the irritation I get from this razor has been steadily decreasing and the BBS I get from it is the smoothest and longest lasting

 

[Haiku]

I was very disappointed too when I first tried it. My disappointment isn't totally gone, but it's alleviated by the fact that the irritation I get from this razor has been steadily decreasing and the BBS I get from it is the smoothest and longest lasting

I've been reading this thread with some interest, and I find I have a question: if you're getting irritation why do you say the shave is BBS? I would have thought that irritation means redness perhaps even razor burn, if you're getting that result I wouldn't have thought that's a BBS shave.

 

[heirkb]

I've been reading this thread with some interest, and I find I have a question: if you're getting irritation why do you say the shave is BBS? I would have thought that irritation means redness perhaps even razor burn, if you're getting that result I wouldn't have thought that's a BBS shave.

No. When I get irritation, my face doesn't show it. I can just feel it. My alum burns like hell and my face is too sensitive to be touched (except for gently) in the irritated areas for about 20 to 30 minutes. The feel of the skin is actually BBS. Sometimes I get smooth shaves with no stubble, but it doesn't feel as totally smooth as it does when I get a BBS with the NEW Deluxe.

 

[AsylumGuido]

My NEW DeLuxe, used regularly, delivers a soft smooth shave ... unless I pressure it. I have a standard handled NEW DeLuxe of which I use very light pressure. The substantial head carries the weight to do the work. I have used a shorter, lighter Norfolk handle with excellent results, as well.

Bob, your problem may be the back balance of the heavier handle, where the original handle balanced superbly.

I have used many standard NEW heads, and while they may adapt to a heavier handle, the masterpiece of the NEW DeLuxe would appear to not only be based upon the fantastic head design, but also the complimentary classic handles.

 

[cooncatbob]

My NEW DeLuxe, used regularly, delivers a soft smooth shave ... unless I pressure it. I have a standard handled NEW DeLuxe of which I use very light pressure. The substantial head carries the weight to do the work. I have used a shorter, lighter Norfolk handle with excellent results, as well.

Bob, your problem may be the back balance of the heavier handle, where the original handle balanced superbly.

I have used many standard NEW heads, and while they may adapt to a heavier handle, the masterpiece of the NEW DeLuxe would appear to not only be based upon the fantastic head design, but also the complimentary classic handles.

I'll try shaving with the original cracked handle and a NEW bar handle on next time.
The Tuckaway handle that come with it is 30.2 grams and the NEW Bar handle is 20.8 gram.

 

[AsylumGuido]

I'll try shaving with the original cracked handle and a NEW bar handle on next time.
The Tuckaway handle that come with it is 30.2 grams and the NEW Bar handle is 20.8 gram.

I am awaiting your results. I really want you to experience the DeLuxe at its best. To be honest, I have only used the Milady/Norfolf shorter handle a few times as compared to my standard DeLuxe.

 

[Hoos]

I have a Lady Gillette New Deluxe. Will have to pull it out and look at it. Didn't occur to me that they were New Deluxe razors.

It's in a monogrammed, jade box - no mailer, though.